Any Wedding Planners out there?

try searching schools in your area. A good place to start is the bridal association.

www.bridalassn.com

Before taking any more classes or spending any more money in this direction, you should find a reputable planner in your area and do an apprenticeship with them. That means for little or no pay you assist them and shadow them in the planning, consulting, and coordinating process. You should do this with several weddings. If you are still interested even after seeing the stress level & having to deal with the emotional brides & moms, then I suggest you take a course online and work either part time or full time at a bridal shop or as an assistant with an established planner.

As you do this you also need to begin building information and relationships with bakers, florists, photographers, and venues.

Once you have about 6 mos-1yr of this under your belt, you should be ready to go it on your own.

Not trying to discourage you at all, it's just that planning your own, and doing it for a living are so different. It actually takes more time and experience in the industry then anything else.

Not sure how much this will help, but I know on those online classes you see on TV they have Wedding Planner degrees. I bet if you were to do a search for them, it would tell you what to do to get started. I have always wanted to do this too, but I live in a tiny town, where I don't think I could make much money. Have a blast, and Best wishes!

In some areas, there are wedding planner classes and certifications. But most of the time...wedding planners are found by referral. The best way to get started is to offer your services to your friends and keep track (record, pictures, comments) of every weding you do. Also, you can give your business cards to wedding dress stores, boutiques, florists, reception halls....all fo the places soon-to-be brides hang out!!!

Good luck!!!

hey currently i'm working on becoming an event/wedding planner. couple yrs ago i was an assistant wedding coordinator - i did as a free service. as well as planned large elegant and fun events recently or was head of decorating an event. i'm looking into 1 of 2 online certifications courses - American Academny of WEdding Proffesionals that was recommend today as well as US Career Institute - Wedding/Event Planner School. i'm planning on owning my own company. so all the weddings and events i've done i have taken pictures of, especially of the tables of my arrangements and different things that i had my hand in within the event. make a portfolio of your work. from the littlest detail to the biggest. also whats told to me to do was even in your own home display your work of different arrangements you can do if you decide to go that way for parties and events. even now my current job different events we have here they givign me a major say of decorating to help my portfolio.

This is a good place to start:

http://www.bridalassn.com/

I also contacted a few of my consultants in my area and voluteered to help them - which helped to learn the business.

also try:

http://www.pwgbride.com/abc/

There is some good tips.

Good Luck!